Flash floods batter Afghanistan, at least 22 dead

At least 22 people in Afghanistanwere killed and farmland was damaged when flash floods hit aplain near the capital, officials said on Sunday.

Normally arid Afghanistan can get heavy rain in its summerand more than 60 people were killed early this month in floodingeast of the capital, Kabul.

The latest floods followed hours of torrential rain and hailon Saturday, with the Shomali plain, just to the north of Kabul,particularly hard hit.

Six of the dead were children, said senior Kabul policeofficer, Sayed Ekramuddin Jalal.

"We have already sent teams of rescuers to the area andtaken people out of danger," he said.

Several people were injured and about a dozen homes werewashed away. Many irrigation canals and wells, as well asorchards and fields were damaged, he said.

Some of the victims were visiting relatives for the Eidal-Fitr holiday, he said.

Two women were killed and four people were injured inflooding elsewhere, said Ghulam Farouq, an official at theMinistry of Disaster Preparedness.